Chilworth Abbey

& Monastery, Chilworth in Surrey

Welcome to Chilworth Benedictine Monastery

St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth (formerly St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate, 1856 - 2011) is one of four Benedictine monasteries in Great Britain forming the English Province of the international Benedictine Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation. The Abbey was founded as a result of the invitation made by Bishop Thomas Grant, the first Bishop of Southwark, to the Italian abbot Dom Pietro Casaretto, to send monks from St Benedict's own monastery at Subiaco to undertake a mission at Ramsgate. By 1856 arrangements between Bishop Grant and Abbot Casaretto were concluded and the first monk, Dom Wilfrid Alcock, arrived to take charge at the Ramsgate mission which had been made possible thanks to the building of a Gothic church by the famous Gothic Revivalist architect Augustus Welby Pugin, which was donated to the Diocese of Southwark before his premature death in 1852. The Community relocated to Chilworth near Guildford in Surrey, in November 2011, and now lives and prays in what was a Franciscan Friary of the Order of Friars Minor (OFMs).

Catholicism 8

Due to the present pandemic the Bishop Barron 'Catholicism' course presented by Fr John Seddon will be postponed until further notice.

Let us pray for each other in the meantime!

First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Please join us for Mass every First Saturday of the month to do as Our Lady requested and honour her Immaculate Heart and recite the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, after Mass concludes. There is also the opportunity for Confession with one of the priests.

Adoration Times

The Most Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ is exposed and adored every Sunday from 4 PM until 5 PM and every Friday from 8 PM until 8.45 PM.

Catholicism at Chilworth 2019-2020

Bishop Robert Barron's 'Catholicism' course will be presented from September 2019 for a second time at Chilworth Abbey, after a highly successful run over the last ten months, which showed how much a desire to learn more about their faith is present in the hearts of believers. The same format will be followed, showing each of the ten episodes month by month, chapter by chapter with explanations, teaching and discussion lead by Fr John Seddon OSB. The presentations will be on the first Saturday of every month beginning on September 7th, then October 12th, November 9th and December 7th. Then in 2020, January 11th, February 8th, March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, and June 6th.Each Study Day will begin with Mass at 9.00, followed by coffee. The first teaching session will conclude with Midday Prayer, with the second beginning after lunch until about 3.30 pm. Please bring a packed lunch and, if you can, a friend. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.

COME and experience CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

You are welcome to join CHILWORTH CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP, Wednesdays 7.30pm to 8.15pm in the Assisi Room behind St Augustine's Abbey, Sample Oak Lane, Chilworth, Guildford GU4 8QR. A period of quiet meditation. No need to book. Typically, around ten or more people attend from all backgrounds aged from 30+ to 85+!

How to stay at the monastery

If you wish to stay in the Guest House at St Augustine's contact the Guest Master, Fr Thomas, at the following email address: guestchilworth@outlook.com

Weekly Mass in Guidford Town Centre

Holy Mass is now offered every Thursday in the Anglican Church of

St Mary's 5 Trinity ChurchyardGuildfordGU1 3RR

at 12.45 pm by one of our priests.

Mass finishes at 1.15, followed by lunch. Please bring your own packed lunch if you would like to share in the fellowship. Non Catholics are also most welcome.

If you are in Guildford please come along !

Books in the Cellar

The cellar is now groaning with boxes full of books which are waiting to be unpacked so the the shelves can become a library. Already one volunteer has kindly offered his services.

Benedictine Monks

St Augustine's Abbey is the home of a Community of Benedictine Monks of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation.

The Congregation is made up of 7 Provinces : Italy, Flanders, Great Britain and USA, France, Spain, Africa and Madagascar, Vietnam and of 2 Pro-Provinces : Germany and the Philippines + 1 monastery under the responsibility of the Abbot President : New Norcia (Australia).

The total number of the monks is 1250, in 64 monasteries, either Abbeys or Priories.

The Nuns or Benedictine Sisters are about 975, in 45 female monasteries aggregated to the Congregation. They are located in France, Flanders, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Israel, Africa, Madagascar, Vietnam, Australia and North and Central America.

Some of our houses take part in the development program of the local Church as in schools in the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Some others, a minority, are in charge of a parish close to the monastery.

Donate

The monks of St Augustine's Abbey live a life of prayer, work and study in Community life. Any support you are able to give is most gratefully appreciated.
If you would like to support us, you can do so below.